Fuel additives

[jamestnewsonr65]

Now that I am using the bike again and took it out for it's first run this year, it occurred to me that I might need to use a fuel additive due to the unleaded fuel used.

Does anyone else use additives in their fuel to ensure the valves are not damaged over time? Or is it something which I don't need to worry about.

[montmil]

IMO, these fuel additives do nothing for your engine and neither do they grow hair on your chest, remove it from your ears nor make you irresistible to hot babes.

At least that's been my limited personal experiences.

[Barry]

I don't use fuel additive for the valve seats and I have seen zero valve recession due to unleaded fuel. Only time it might be a problem is if using maximum revs all the time.  

You might want to research BMW's change of valve material as their first attempt at coping with unleaded fuel caused more problems than it cured.

[Bob_Roller]

Don't waste your money on fuel additives, to replace lead .
The problem that BMW had with valve issues, as Barry has said, was the material the valve seats were made from .
No amount of lead would solve this problem .
Unleaded fuel became mandatory in the US around 1972-73, don't know when it became mandatory in the EU community, I have not heard of any real issues with valve problems here in the US due to unleaded fuel .
Possibly vehicles manufactured before 1972-73 may have in issues, but by far a vast majority of the those vehicles have long been recycled .

[jamestnewsonr65]

Seems the general consensus is don't bother and if there is an issue it is not because of the fuel.

Seems that some things cope ok without additives in place of the lead. I have a 1969 Porsche which copes brilliantly without any lead additive whatsoever.

Thanks for the replies.

[Tony Smith]

IMO, these fuel additives do nothing for your engine and neither do they grow hair on your chest, remove it from your ears nor make you irresistible to hot babes.

At least that's been my limited personal experiences.

+1

But on the theory that like chicken soup it can't hurt, I do drop a splash of "Flash-Lube valve saver" in with every tankfull (when I remember).


My own research on BMW airhead valve recession tells me that some do, some do not and the year of manufacture has bugger all to do with it. I monitor my valve clearances and if I suffer a receding seat I will fit another cylinder head and try my luck again. i will only muck about fitting "lead free" seats when the supply of cheap usable heads runs out.

[mrclubike]

I have not had any noticeable valve seat wear on mine after 3000 miles  

[cwmoss]

What about the additives for dealing with the ethanol?

[montmil]

What about the additives for dealing with the ethanol?

Can't speak for others, but the five motorcycles in my garage -the Airheads being 1978, 1981, 1983- and my old VW Cabriolet show no ill effects from the approx 10% +/- blend of ethanol with the gasoline... other than a slight decrease in gas mileage. Nor are there any issues with the floats and rubber bits in das Bings.

[Barry]

There are some good reasons to be careful using a range of additives with ethanol fuel blends as the additives may contain alcohol which potentially makes any problems due to ethanol worse not better.  

[wa1udg]

i don't believe in snake oil but I have found that Lucas fuel treatment keeps the floats free on my Bings and my occasional "Bingfoot" problem was eliminated.  It also leaves a film which may help with tank rust during storage.  There are eough moving parts in a Bing that the stuff can't hurt.